Pobol y Cwm

Pobol y Cwm
Format Soap opera
Country of origin United Kingdom
Production
Running time 19 Mins 45 Secs (Approx) without adverts
Broadcast
Original channel BBC Wales (1974-1982)
S4C (since 1982)
Original run 16 October 1974 – present
External links
Website

Pobol y Cwm (People of the Valley) is a Welsh-language television soap opera which has been produced by the BBC since October 1974.[1] The longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC, Pobol y Cwm was originally transmitted on BBC Wales television and later transferred to the Welsh-language station S4C when it opened in November 1982.[1]

Rugby specials apart, Pobol y Cwm is consistently the most watched programme of the week on S4C,[2] and in 1994 was briefly shown in the rest of the UK on BBC2 with English subtitles.[3] Five episodes are produced each week, normally broadcast at 20.00 every weeknight, with a repeat (subtitled in English) shown on the following weekday evening at 18.00. An omnibus edition (also subtitled) is shown on Sunday afternoons.

Contents

Setting

The setting for the show in the fictional village of Cwmderi, located in south-west Wales in an area lying somewhere between Carmarthen and Llanelli, although little effort is made to ensure that all the cast speak with Carmarthenshire accents – indeed, the fact that there are "incomers" from other Welsh-speaking parts of Wales in the village is one of the programme's features. Most of the village activity centres on the pub, Y Deri,[4] and its adjacent small businesses and houses. Other frequent settings for storylines include the comprehensive school, Ysgol y Mynach, and a local farm, Penrhewl. The village is to be found in the heart of the Gwendraeth Valley. There are two other imaginary villages close to Cwmderi, namely Llanarthur and Cwrt Mynach.

While most of the cast are largely unknown to the English-speaking world, Ioan Gruffudd – who later became an international film star – played the part of Gareth Wyn Harries between 1987 and 1994. Other well-known faces who have appeared include Rachel Thomas, Huw Garmon, Gillian Elisa, Ieuan Rhys, Aneirin Hughes, and Gwenno Saunders (of The Pipettes). In October 2006, Imogen Thomas made a cameo appearance.

Gareth Lewis (who plays pub landlord Meic Pierce) is the seventh longest-serving actor in a continuous role in British television soap history, while Gwyn Elfyn has played the part of village shopkeeper Denzil Rees continuously since 1984, making him the tenth longest-serving actor still appearing in a United Kingdom soap opera role.[5][6]

Current cast members

Former or occasional cast members

Characters

Main article: List of Pobol y Cwm characters

Notes

  1. ^ a b Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel; Menna, Baines et al., eds (2008). The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. p. 688. ISBN 9780708319536. 
  2. ^ S4C viewing figures
  3. ^ The series could occasionally also be seen in England during regional optout slots on BBC1 in the mid to late 1970s.
  4. ^ Outdoor filming for the pub used to take place at The Sportsman's Rest in Peterston-super-Ely.
  5. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/pobolycwm/sites/characters/pages/denzil_rees.shtml
  6. ^ http://www.southwalesguardian.co.uk/news/5034794.Pobol_y_Cwm_returns_to_Gwendraeth_roots/

External links

Pobol y Cwm
Current Characters
Anita Pierce · Britt Monk · Cathryn Richards · Catrin Morris · Dani Thomas · Debbie Collins · Diane Ashurst · Eileen Malcolm · Ffion Roberts · Gaynor Evans · Gwyneth Jones · Izzy Evans · Lois Evans · Marian Rees · Nesta Roberts · Sheryl Hughes · Sioned Rees · Yvonne Evans · Aaron Monk · Brandon Monk · Cai Rossiter · Chester Morris · Colin Evans · Dai Ashurst · Denzil Rees · Eifion Rowlands · Garry Monk · Gethin Thomas · Gwern Monk · Huw White · Hywel Llywelyn · Ieuan Griffiths · Iolo White · Huw Jenkins · Kevin Powell · Liam Collins · Macs White · Mark Jones · Meic Pierce · Rhys Llywelyn · Ricky Jones · Scott Lewis · Sion White · Wil Howarth
Former Characters
Erin Medi · Jean McGurk · Cath Jones · Reg Harris · Sabrina Harris · Maggie Post · Stan Bevan · Doreen Bevan · Cai Rossiter · Hazel Griffiths · Duff Jones ·
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